Over the last few years, there has been renewed discussion in the larger legal community about the role of non-lawyers. As a tax attorney, I can only laugh. I have always competed with certified public accountants (CPAs) and other non-attorney tax professionals. Prospective clients regularly ask me, “Why should I hire a lawyer to handle […]
If you hate clutter, throwing away your receipts seems like the natural thing to do. Even people who aren’t as concerned with tidiness often toss their receipts in the nearest wastebasket as a matter of habit. And if you’re in the mood for spring cleaning, it’s easy to trash receipts and documents without examining them […]
In the summer of 2019, the IRS mailed a series of notification letters to taxpayers who owned virtual currency. These letters informed taxpayers that the IRS was aware of their virtual transactions and expected them to submit amended tax returns if they had not included virtual income and transactions on their 2018 returns. Previously, the IRS was unable to track virtual currency […]
Every year, the Internal Revenue Service hears the same excuses from taxpayers attempting to avoid paying their taxes. The idea that certain circumstance can get you out of paying your taxes is a fallacy. Although you do have to pay, there are certain situations in which the IRS will provide tax relief options or allow […]
As much as you love receiving that tax return check in the mail, filing your returns can be a very complicated, headache-producing process. This is especially true if you have a unique dependent situation and aren’t quite sure who you can claim. An experienced tax lawyer can help you determine who can be a dependent […]
If you seem to find yourself stuck paying estimated tax penalties year after year, you can take some comfort knowing you’re not alone. In 2015, which was the last time the IRS released data on estimated tax penalties, the agency reported that they assessed these penalties on 10 million taxpayers. On average, each of those […]
Receiving a notice that you’re getting audited can wrack your nerves, but at the end of the day, an audit is nothing more than an in-depth fact-checking exercise. Although enduring an audit can be time-consuming and cumbersome, if you’ve been honest and accurate when keeping records and filing tax returns, you shouldn’t have anything to […]
Last year, union dues and other job-related expenses exceeding 2% of adjusted gross income (AGI) could still be deducted as miscellaneous deductions. However, for 2018 (and for the foreseeable future), those deductions have been eliminated. All work-related tools, supplies, clothing, union dues, and other work expenses are no longer deductible. The same is true for […]
Most people don’t have taxes on the brain when they decide to settle down permanently with their romantic partner, but that doesn’t mean your nuptials won’t affect your tax standing. To mark Valentine’s Day, we’d like to share with you the many tax benefits (and a few potential drawbacks) of tying the knot as well as some […]
Many people who live in Maryland work in other states, and many people who live in other states maintain employment here in Maryland. This is true of full-time, part-time, and self-employed individuals, and it’s especially common for residents of the greater Baltimore area. Living and working in two different areas can make things a bit […]
